Saturday, October 8, 2011

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver is a great coming of age story. It is about Samantha Kingston, who has a seemingly perfect life. But something extraordinary happens when she dies: she wakes up. She lives the same day for seven days, each time getting a new chance to get it right. It is kind of like Groundhog's Day, but with a teenager trying to figure out the tragic events that lead to her death.

She finds out who she is, who she wants to be, and even kisses someone that she would never dream about. She races against the clock, in attempts to save her own life.

I received a copy of Before I Fall from when I was working at Barnes & Noble. We got advanced reader's edition - which is the copy that you will be receiving. It is paperback, but still in good condition. I liked the novel. I feel I would have loved it if I was still coming of age myself, but Lauren Oliver does put together an interesting plot line. If you enjoy YA novels, you'll enjoy Before I Fall.How to enter the giveaway: (Closes October 15th, 11:59PM Pacific Time)

Open to U.S. & Canada only. Will extend the giveaway internationally if you pay shipping.

The only mandatory entry: You must be a follower of the blog. Leave a comment saying that you are a follower and want to enter the giveaway. Include your e-mail if you don't plan on checking this blog on October 16th. (1 entry)

(+1 additional entry) Tweet about this giveaway and link to your tweet in your comment.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

I first met Dean not long after my wife and I split up. It was minutes after, actually. After the screaming match that ended with my trousers and boxers drifting down onto the apartment complex’s front lawn, I took off in my car. I had no idea where I was going or where I would end up, but decided to have my first drink as a newly single man.

It was in the bar that Dean slapped me on the back. “You look like you need a drinking buddy!” His teeth looked like they had been cut from a magazine and placed on his gruff man’s body. They didn’t fit him at all. In fact, Dean was probably one of the most awkwardly shaped people I had ever met, hands and feet huge for his lankly limbs, and a face that a burly man would have.

I was immediately intrigued. That and I couldn’t say no to a free drink. A few whiskey sours later, and I spilled my guts. “And she tells me to get out. I mean, she was the one cheating!”

Dean grabbed my shoulder, “You’re better off, forget her! So many more people out there.” He looked around, “I’ll tell you what, I left my wife. We didn’t even divorce! Met this gal out here, she’s great. I live my life with no baggage, you know? None of that hard stuff.” He took a long drink.

I grumbled into my drink. The ice had already melted, watering down the whole mess. “I thought I had done everything right, and now, all I have are some pants and underwear.”

Dean thought about this for a moment. “Okay! I know, let’s just go grab something! If you could have anything from your life with her, what would it be?”

Without a thought, “My laptop.” I had scrambled to get away from the whizzing plates that I had forgotten to grab it.

“Great, let’s get it!”

I drove to my old apartment complex and marched up the stairs. With Dean by my side, my new drinking buddy, I was ready to face my wife and get all my stuff back, not just my laptop.

The door opened. My wife looked at me, then Dean, her eyes widened. Her mouth held itself agape, nostrils flared in disbelief.

Dean’s face held the same expression. His lips formed the whisper, “Patricia?”

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Thanks again to Nina's Prompt & Share on G+. I'm having entirely too much fun with these.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

I have submitted my pitch for my story RUHE to the YAtopia Blog Pitch Contest with agent Mandy Hubbard!

It closes Wednesday at Midnight (I am unsure if this is technically 11:59pm or technically Midnight on Thursday, but technicalities aside!) It is still open right now! If you had a finished manuscript that is YA or MG and you are looking to pitch it to an agent, you might as well do it on the YAtopic blog!

Monday, October 3, 2011

The wind ruffled the leaves in the trees. She felt herself slipping. Her
eyes grew wide, sucking in the last bits of the gorgeous robin’s egg
sky. The wheat melted around her skin, caving way to the bed sheets she
was lying in. Her eyes shifted from seeing the blue, melding into white,
then just shadows danced on the walls of her ceiling. A tear ran down
her cheek as she knew she had to leave her place behind, leave what she
loved.

What she loved, the thought pang in her head like an arrow. The clock,
where was the clock? It was spilling out onto the floor, the contents
from this morning’s not-so-great wake up. She cursed inside her head.
She grabbed a jacket, didn’t even bother looking at her hair, and flew
down the stairs. She glimpsed at the clock in the hallway.

Already ten minutes late, he was going to kill me. She ran to the car,
jammed her key in the ignition and sped off. Every light seemed to turn
red in front of her, she slapped the steering wheel and screamed at the
light. Then she screamed above her head.

“This really isn’t cool, okay? Just stop it, stop messing with me
today.” But she knew why the universe was. She was messing with it. She
was playing inside her own head and leaving this world behind. A smile
crept across her face. She realized she didn’t care if she was late. Who
cares about this world, when I have my own?

She pulled her car up to the restaurant twenty five minutes late. She
bounded into the dimly lit place and scanned the room. Before the
hostess could say a word, Jess was off. She weaved in between tables,
ducked under a waiter, and slumped down in the seat.

“I’m sorry.” Her words came out without meaning, without sympathy or
worry, without concern. She couldn’t find a reason to fret over him
anymore, though she really wanted to. Something was telling her it was
time to let go.

“No worries.” Kevin flashed a brilliant smile that captivated the light
of the candle that was almost burned out on their table. “I knew you’d
make it.”

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Today's prompt is brought to you by the fabulous Nina Pelletier on G+.

"This week we are going to put your character (or yourself) in a specific
situation. Your character is late, he/she's late for a very important
date, no time to say "hello", "goodbye" they're late they're late
they're late.
400 words or less - Show your character rushing against time."

Be sure to circle Nina to participate in any future prompts - they definitely are very fun.